Cooking apparatus



Aug. 12, 1958 H. JONES COOKING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Aug. 19 1955 5 w w 3. mw O 2 .3 4 i I n 1 9 l. I :2 1 i5: w/ III II :42; '22 I wd unn I F. 6 i v 1. 7 aw I g m w B n Wilbur H. Jones IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 12, 1958 w. H. JONES cooxmc YAPPARATUS' Filed Aug. 19 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

Wilbur H jones QINVENTOR.

, ATTORNEY United States Patent COOKING APPARATUS Wilbur H. Jones, Heudersouville, N. C.

Application August 19, 1955, Serial No. 529,434 2 Claims. (Cl. 99-259) This: invention relates to cooking apparatus and more particularly to an'apparatus for simultaneously smoking and cooking meat, including poultry, fish, etc.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for smoking and curing meats.

A further object is to provide an improved apparatus for smoking and cooking meats which is economical to construct and operate.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus for smoking and cooking meats which has improved odor, safety and control features.

Further objects Will appear from the following description when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view with parts-of the walls removed of one form of an apparatus embodying some of the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation of the fire box assembly used in the apparatus of Figure 1; 1 Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the lower part of the apparatus of Figurel with side Wall removed and showing a special deflector assembly of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a section view taken on the lines 4-4 of Figure 3;v and Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the deflector assembly shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The smoking and cooking apparatus of the present invention is characterized by a fireproof chamber having disposed near the bottom thereof a fire box. Disposed between the fire box and the upper portion of the chamber where the meat being processed is contained is a deflector member which permits smoke to pass upward but which traps downwardly falling fluids and diverts them away from the fire box. In a preferred form the fire box is provided with an adjustable cover pivotally mounted at the back of the box and extending an appreciable distance beyond the sides and the back of the fire box in overhanging relation. Preferably, the fire box occupies the center portion of the bottom of the chamber and the floor on either side of the fire box slopes away from the fire box toward the front and side of the chamber.

Referring now to the drawings, the smoking and cooking chamber is indicated generally with the reference numeral 10. Chamber 10, all of the parts of which are constructed of a fireproof material such as concrete or steel, is provided in its upper portion with a vertical partition 11 which extends from the face 12 of chamber to the rear wall 13 thereof. It will be seen then that partition 11 divides the upper portion of chamber 10 into two bottomless compartments 14, 15.

Inside compartment 14 there are provided a plurality of hooks indicated with the numeral 16 which can be used to support sections of meat to be processed such as hams, turkeys, etc. Door 17, mounted on the face 12 of compartment 10, provides access to compartment 14 for placing meat therein or removing it therefrom. Compartment 15 is provided with a plurality of spaced perforated shelves 18, 19. Shelves 18, 19 may be used to support metal cooking trays or other utensils holding smaller pieces of meat to be processed. Door 20, mounted over an opening in face 12 of chamber 10, provides access to compartment 15.

In the central part of the bottom of chamber 10 there is disposed a fire box 21. Fire box 21 is provided with vertical metal sides 22, 23 and back 24 and a pervious metal bottom 25. Access to fire box 21- is provided by means of hinged door 26 mounted flush with the face 12 of chamber 10. Two hinge members 27, 28 are mounted on the back 24 of fire box 21. Extending over the top of fire box 21 is a metal fire box cover 29. Hinge members 27, 28 extend through small apertures in cover member 29 in such a manner that cover 29 may be considered as hinged to the vertical back wall 24 of fire box 21. The extent to which cover 29 is raised or lowered may be adjusted by means of chain 34 and knob 31 rotatably mounted on face 12 of chamber 10 and extending therethrough (Fig. 3). Any other suitable means may, of course, be used for adjusting cover 29.

It will be noted that cover 29 extends in overlapping relation well beyond the interior of vertical walls 22, 23,, 24. This type fire box structure has been found to be particularly beneficial in that the overhanging cover 29 serves as a baffle to deflect the flames in the fire box and overcome their tendency to rise upwardly toward the meat being processed. At the same time, a fire of substantial proportions may be maintained in fire box 21 so that the meat in compartments 14, 15 may be expeditiously processed. Situated underneath fire box 21 is ash chamber 32. Ashes which pass through previous bottom 25 are removed from chamber 32 via door 33. The draft through fire box 21 may be regulated by opening or closing door 33. As shown in Figure 2, the fire box 21 and ash chamber 32 may be constructed as a unitary structure.

Inasmuch as compartments 14, 15 have no bottom, it will be apparentthat any juices or greases melted from the meat being processed will tend to fall toward the bottom of chamber 10. To reduce the concomitant fire hazard and provide means for handling these fluids, a special deflector assembly is provided.

Referring now to Figures 3-5, there is situated above the fire box a gable-like deflector assembly indicated with the numeral 33. As shown in Figure 4, assembly 33 comprises an uppermost member 34 extending from the front to the rear of chamber 10' and having in section the shape of an inverted V with each leg of the V provided with an upwardly extending longitudinal lip or trough 35-36. Members 37, 38, 39 and 40, provided with longitudinal lips 41, 42, 43, ,44, respectively, are interconnected with member 34 by means of stabilizing bars 45, 46. It will be noted that member 38 overlaps and is spaced apart from lip 35 throughout its length. This structure makes it possible for smoke to readily pass upwardly through the deflector assembly. At the same time, any grease or juices falling downward upon member 38 will be caught in its lip 42 and conducted toward the rear of chamber 10 by virtue of the slanted disposition of deflector assembly 33 (Figure 3). A slope of around 10 to 15 degrees operates satisfactorily. Members 37, 39, and 40 similarly overlap and are spaced apart from lips 42, 36 and 43, respectively, all as more clearly shown-in Figures 4 and 5.

At the rear of deflector 33 the troughs formed by lips 35, 36, 41 and 42 empty into a common trough 47, shown in Figure 5. The troughs formed by lips 36, 43 and 44 empty into a similar trough (not shown) on the opposite side of assembly 33. Trough 47 serves the purpose of a conducting any fluids emptying therein downwardly toward the floor of chamber and outwardly toward the sides thereof.

Deflector assembly 33 preferably occupies substantially the entire cross sectional area from front to back and from side to side of chamber 10. In this arrangement, any fluids from the upper part of chamber 10 will most likely be caught by the deflector assembly and diverted away from the fire box. It is necessary that the deflector occupy the space directly above the fire box in order to insure against fluids dropping onto the cover of the fire box with the accompanying unpleasant odors and fire hazard.

It will be noted from Figure 1 that fire box 21 is placed in the front center part of the bottom of chamber 10. On either side and behind fire box 21 the floor of chamber 10 is constructed so as to slope toward one of the front corners of the bottom of chamber 10. Thus, any fluid leaving trough 47 or otherwise falling in that space from the center to the left side of chamber 10 tends to flow toward the left front corner of the bottom of chamber 10. A cock 34 or other suitable valve is mounted at this corner to permit accumulated fluids to be periodically withdrawn. The floor on the right side of chamber 10 is similarly constructed and cock 35 permits fluid-s accumulating on that side to be withdrawn.

In operation, a fire consuming charcoal, hickory wood, or other suitable fuel is maintained in fire box 21 by adjusting cover 29 and door 33 to obtain the desired level of heat and smoke. If desired, containers of Water may be placed in the upper part of chamber 10 to vaporize and keep the meat being processed moist. Unless otherwise controlled, the heat and smoke will be about equally divided in passage through compartments 14 and 15. Mounted above compartment 14 is a chimney 36 equipped with a suitable damper member 37; a similar chimney 38 and damper member 39 is mounted above compartment 15. If it is desired to cause all the heat and smoke to pass through compartment 14,- damper 39 is closed completely so as to close chimney 38. Thus, if the meat in one compartment is more nearly cooked than the meat in the other compartment the dual chimney permits the heat and smoke to be distributed between the two compartments as needed.

For the most beneficial results in practicing this invention, the deflector assembly 33 should be kept reasonably clean. This tends to eliminate undesirable odors and may be accomplished by washing and scrubbing periodically when the cooking apparatus is not in use.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for smoking and cooking comprising the combination of a chamber constructed of fireproof material, means in the upper portion of said chamber for holding meat, at door providing access to said means, a chimney in the upper portion of said chamber, a fire box in the lower portion of said chamber, a cover member hingedly connected at the back edge of said fire box and adapted to cover the top of said fire box, said cover member adapted to extend an appreciable distance beyond a vertical plane intersecting the interior sides of said fire box, means for adjusting said cover member, said fire box being situated in the central portion of said chamber, the floor of said chamber on either side of said fire box sloping away from said fire box and toward an outside wall of said chamber, and a sloping deflector assembly comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinal troughs disposed in overlapping relationship between said fire box and said upper portion and adapted to permit smoke to pass upwardly and to intercept fluids falling downwardly.

2. Apparatus for smoking and cooking comprising the combination of a chamber constructed of fireproof material, a vertical partition dividing the upper part of said chmber into two compartments, a door providing access to said compartments, means in each of said compartments for holding meat, a chimney connected to each of said compartments, a fire box in the center of the bottom of said chamber, the floor of said chamber on either side of said fire box sloping away from said fire box and toward the front corner of said chamber, an adjustable cover member hingedly connected to the back edge of said fire box and adapted to cover the top of said fire box, said cover member adapted to extend an appreciable distance beyond a vertical plane intersecting the interior sides of said fire box, a deflector assembly disposed between said fire boX and said vertical partition and adapted to intercept downwardly falling fluids while permitting smoke to pass upwardly, said deflector assembly comprising a plurality of spaced longitudinal troughs extending in overlapping relationship from the front to the rear of said chamber and sloping toward the rear of said chamber, and a conduit at the rear of said chamber disposed normal to and communicating with each of said troughs, said conduit being adapted to conduct fluids flowing from said troughs downward to the floor of said chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,300 Flanagan July 2, 1918 FOREIGN PATENTS 545,291 Germany Feb. 27, 1932 722,079 Germany June 30. 1942 867,947 Germany Feb. 23, 1953 

